First impressions can often be totally wrong. For instance, when I first saw Pokemon Battle Trozei, I thought it was just going to be a simple, leisurely puzzle game. I was looking forward to it too. My love for Pokemon is well-documented and I like puzzle games as well. Little did I realize that my assumptions about the game were completely wrong.

Who'da thought such a cute game would be one of the most rage-inducing I've played lately?

This is no leisurely puzzle game, as I soon found out. Pokemon Battle Trozei is actually surprisingly fast-paced. Unlike most of the puzzle games I've played, like Tetris, Trozei doesn't really give you much time to plan out your moves. Since this is a Pokemon game, the goal is to capture wild Pokemon by matching three or more Pokemon heads in your Trozei box. You have to keep a combo going to do any significant damage to the wild Pokemon, and the game doesn't allow for any dawdling as you try to make your groups to continue the combo. You have to be quick in finding the right places to move each Pokemon head and you have to have a steady hand to make sure you don't put it in the wrong spot, which can prove fatal in the later levels. Additionally, each Pokemon has a single type that affects how much damage it takes from certain attacks. Using this to your advantage is the key to victory, so having a firm understanding of the Pokemon type-chart is essential.

It sounds easy enough, but there's a catch: wild Pokemon can attack as well, depleting the energy of your Trozei box. Some Pokemon may even jump inside your Trozei box, giving you less room to match Pokemon and causing more damage when the wile Pokemon attacks. Should your box's energy be depleted, it's Game Over and you'll have to start the level over again. You won't have to re-capture any Pokemon you've caught, but you won't be able to progress either until you finally capture the boss.

The game can be mighty frustrating at times, too. Your Trozei box does seem to get painfully frail later on in the game. I'm not too sure if it actually does, but my energy would get hammered down after just a few attacks from some of the later enemies. Some Pokemon attack before you even have a chance to start a single combo. There's also an obnoxious tendency for the game to choose the wrong Pokemon for starting a combo when you start one with two or more groups of different Pokemon. Say, for example, I was trying to capture a Charmander. I match four Squirtles and three Bulbasaurs at the same time. But, for some reason, the game starts the combo with Bulbasaur instead of Squirtle, even though there were more Squirtle in their group than Bulbasaurs in the other. So, I'm stuck using a Grass-type attack against a Fire-type Pokemon, which means my attack will do less damage. This is especially annoying as you can't change the attack's type mid-combo.

You'll often be faced with multiple Pokemon at once. Dealing with multiple adversaries is particularly troubling as attacks will only hit one Pokemon by default. No matter how big a combo you rake up, no matter how much damage you deal, that attack will only affect one Pokemon. The only way to hit multiple Pokemon at once is to start the combo off with a group of five or more Pokemon. And you can't choose which Pokemon to attack either; so you may find yourself in a situation where you have a couple Magikarp splashing about on either side of your Trozei box while a Gyarados rampages inside it. And you can only knick away at the Magikarp before you can affect the more immediate danger of the Gyarados (unless you can match five or more Pokemon, of course).

Multiple wild Pokemon can be a bit of a pain.

For all of its frustrations, though, Pokemon Battle Trozei is an incredibly addictive game thanks to its expansive replayability. All of the known Pokemon are available for capture, from Bulbasaur to Zygarde. Most levels have hidden Pokemon in them enticing you to play through them a second time to try and uncover them. However, some of the hidden Pokemon can be extremely hard to find as the method for unlocking them can be very obscure. Mostly, these hidden Pokemon reveal themselves when you reach a high enough score. Still, there are others that only show their faces if you bring a specific Pokemon in as a support or only during a certain time of day. Suffice to say, unless you're wanting some strenuous trial and error, you may want a guide handy to help you find these hidden Pokemon.

Have you ever noticed how weird Mario games can be? Even the very premise is absurd: Italian plumbers stomping on turtles and consuming mushrooms to make themselves bigger. Maybe its offbeat presentation is why I love the Mario series so much. But as far as weirdness is concerned, no other main series Mario game can hold a candle to all the strange stuff seen in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for the GameBoy. How can anything possibly compete with a ball-themed level located in the crotch of a giant Mario toy?

Mario's megalomania knows no bounds.

In one of the rare instances in his career, Mario is not working to rescue a princess. Instead, Super Mario Land 2 sends Mario on a quest to gather the titular Golden Coins (wait, aren't all coins in the Mario universe gold? What makes these six so special?) all to get his castle back from Wario's grubby clutches. That's right, Wario makes his first appearance in Super Mario Land 2, having stolen Mario's castle while the plumber was off rescuing Princess Daisy in his first portable outing.

Right off the bat, one notices a massive graphical improvement over Mario's first portable adventure, Super Mario Land. In fact, the game looks a fair bit more like Super Mario Bros. 3 in terms of its visual presentation, of course lacking color. The sprites are substantially larger than before, making things easier to see.

Bigger sprites makes things easier on the eyes.

Also vastly improved from the first game are the in-game physics. Mario has some momentum now, making him much more maneuverable and giving the platforming a less stilted feel. Why the sudden leap in quality? Simply put, the development team had more experience with the hardware and were able to make a better looking game with finer mechanics.

But that's not to say Super Mario Land 2 is inherently better than the original in every area. Music is one aspect in which this particular sequel doesn't equal its predecessor. Most of the tunes don't really match the mood each level seems to be creating. For example, the music for the obligatory haunted house level is ultimately too upbeat to be even remotely scary or foreboding. Also, nothing tops the World 2 Theme from the original Super Mario Land.

I mentioned before this game was weird. Don't get me wrong, the first Super Mario Land was pretty offbeat as well, but the second one can get really strange. I already mentioned the phallic-pun themed level in MechaMario's crotch,

Balls!

but did I tell you about the one where you ride a hippopotamus's snot bubble to the moon? Yeah, this game gets really weird at times. But it's the good kind of weird, the kind that keeps you playing to see what crazy thing the designers will throw at you next. One thing I will complain about is the frustrating final level. There are no midpoints throughout, even before the boss battle. So you have to do it all perfectly in one run.

You have to get through all this in one run.

And that's Super Mario Land 2:6 Golden Coins. It's a solid Mario platformer that marks a tremendous improvement over its predecessor in terms of graphics and mechanics. The general weirdness just makes the game more enjoyable. The game has earned its place among Mario's other fantastic adventures.

Another E3 has come and gone. E3 2013 certainly was an exciting time for most gamers. The next-gen consoles were given price and launch details and each of the major console companies brought their A-game when it came to announcing new content for their systems. While Nintendo may have forgone the usual high profile press conference in favor of a simpler Nintendo Direct, they weren't an exception by any means. They showed off a bevy of Wii U and 3DS games, which, while mostly being previously announced, all looked really great. And this is a list of my Top Ten Games at 2013.

First, let's list a few things to keep in mind. Number 1: This list will only have games that are coming to consoles that I own (ie Nintendo consoles). After all, it's hard to get excited for a game I might not have the chance to play. Number 2: I won't be including a game if it was listed in last year's E3 top ten list. It should go without saying that I'm excited for those titles. So, sorry ahead of time Watch Dogs and Pikmin 3.

I'm as excited for this as anyone else, but it's time other games had a chance to shine.

With that out of the way, let's get to the list itself, shall we?

These are the games that really made this year's E3 so exciting for me.

Batman Arkham Origins/ Blackgate

When Batman Arkham Origins was first announced, there was an uncharacteristic amount of reservation from the gaming community. Many were unsure whether Warner Brothers Interactive could live up to the standard of quality set by Rocksteady's Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. Those fears seem to have been put to rest with its presence at E3 this year. The core combat mechanics seem to be in tact and the game introduces a double bat grapple item that looks like it'll be a fun weapon to play around with. But what really caught my attention was the enhanced detective mode. Arkham Origins will really play on the detective side of Batman's persona.

Look! Up there! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, its-too late!

As for myself, I'm still a little on the fence on Arkham Origins. But my doubt is not on whether or not WBI can match Rocksteady, as I'm pretty sure they can. What is causing me to question this game is its open world. I said in my Arkham City review that the overworld just padded the experience and I was hoping Arkham Origins would be a more focused title, like Asylum. But, the devs have said that they're making the overworld even bigger than Arkham City, which probably isn't the best way to fix my main complaint against the previous game.

That said, the portable companion game, Arkham Origins Blackgate, coming to 3DS and Vita, probably has me more eager than the console version. Blackgate is touted as a 2.5D Metroidvania game. I don't know about you, but Metroidvania sounds pretty good to me. It's a pretty safe bet that Blackgate won't be as sprawling as the console version, but more focused, like Asylum. And that's what I'm really looking for in a Batman game.

I might just be more excited for the portable version.

Sonic Lost World

I've never played a Sonic game before. Even though the Blue Blur has been frequenting Nintendo platforms of late, I've still never had enough interest to put the speedster through his paces. But that might very well change with Sonic Lost World. It may not have any dinosaurs as I'd hoped when all we knew of the game was its title, but Sonic's latest adventure looks like a great one nonetheless.

“What makes this game so good,” you ask? Well, I can't really say if it will turn out well, but the promise is certainly there. The level design seems to be taking a page from Super Mario Galaxy, with floating planetoids with multiple paths that Sonic is free to run all over in spite of gravity. Hardcore Sonic fans will no doubt be eager to point out that the game more closely resembles the unreleased Sonic X-treme, but I say it doesn't really matter. Whether Sonic Lost World is taking inspiration from Galaxy or X-treme, it looks like Sonic's streak of good games that started with Sonic Colors will be continuing. And even if it doesn't do so well, I think it should at least be better than Sonic '06.

Super Sonic Galaxy X-treme?

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

It's finally happening. After all these years, Nintendo is making a bona fide sequel to one of the most beloved games of the Super Nintendo era, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. A Link Between Worlds is a bit of a rarity in the Zelda series in that it is not only one of the few direct sequels in the series, but also that it uses the exact same world as its predecessor, obviously with enhanced graphics and 3D effect. Many have noted that the Hyrule in A Link Between Worlds is the exact same world as the Hyrule in A Link to the Past.

I remember this area from when it was only 16-bits.

And this is why I'm not as excited for this game as I would be normally. One of the joys of Zelda is seeing how Hyrule reinvents itself. While certain games may share themes and locales, even areas that we've technically been to before, like Death Mountain or Hyrule Castle, still feel new and exciting thanks to a new art style and context. Exploring the same Hyrule from A Link to the Past might take away from that sense of discovery the series is known for and become a bit boring. But, fear not, Zelda fans. Nintendo may yet give us a strange and exciting environment to explore with the game's Dark World and at least the dungeons are completely new. Plus, there's Link's ability to turn into a wall drawing, which should put a new spin on a classic world.

Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze

I expected more from you, Retro. I expected a game that would employ every ounce of your potential. I expected a game that would push the Wii U hardware and would show the world what it's capable of. I was expecting Metroid Prime 4. Or Raven Blade. Or a new IP.

...And we got this.

But, you know what? None of that matters. Because, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze looks good. Really good. It's easy to see why so many are a bit miffed. After seeing games like the Metroid Prime series, the imagination could only wonder what sort of beautiful, wonderful things you'd be able to render with a powerful HD system at your disposal. Instead, you go with a 2D platformer. But, I guess we can't really complain. I mean, heaven forbid we should have to play an inventive, colorful, whacky, and (most important of all) fun game. But pull this stunt again at E3 2016, and I'll...probably include it in that year's E3 list too.

Mario Kart 8

Nintendo's presentation this year had a lot of streaming problems. It was laggy and unresponsive. Heck, I couldn't even get it to work at first, missing the first 7 or 8 minutes of the presentation. But, when I finally got the darn thing working, the first thing I saw was my first look at Mario Kart in HD. And what were Mario and Co. doing? They were racing on the walls! I don't think I even need to explain further, but, gosh darn it, I will.

The anti-gravity mechanic may not be a huge addition that will drastically alter how Mario Kart 8 plays, but it will certainly make racing even more interesting. And then there's the graphics. Mario Kart has transitioned extremely well to HD. The sparks that fly as your wheels screech while drifting, the flames that erupt from your tailpipe after a boost, the characters, and environments all look absolutely stunning.

Just imagine what sort of crazy courses Nintendo will cook up.

Pokemon X and Y

This should be somewhat of a no-brainer. How could I possibly write such a glowing review of Pokemon Red and Blue and not be excited for the 3D re-imaginings of the series? I've been waiting for a 3D main-series Pokemon game for a long time. Pokemon X and Y are shaping up really well and I can't wait to play it. Fortunately, I won't have long to wait, as the games are set to launch in just a little less than 4 months.

Not very many new details were released at E3 this year, but one that pleased me quite a bit was the aptly named Pokemon-amie (cause French, am I right?). It looks absolutely adorable, a bit like Nintendogs, but with Pokemon! Plus, you can pet a Snorlax. 'Nuff said.

How is this not the best thing ever?

The Wonderful 101

Expect some zany actions scenes in The Wonderful 101.

When Wonderful 101 was first announced back in E3 2012, it was widely overlooked. Many, myself included, thought it was a lackluster Pikmin-ripoff. My, how things have changed over the course of the year. After a much needed title change and some awesome gameplay footage, Wonderful 101 is shaping up to be one of the Wii U's most anticipated games.

The Pikmin comparison still stands, but this game is anything but a Pikmin-ripoff. Players control an army of heroes (up to a hundred), but these heroes are used to form different weapons, like a gun, sword, or fist. These weapons are then used against a horde of aliens invading the earth to subjugate humanity. It has all the high-octane action that's to be expected from Platinum Games. So, if you like colorful worlds and roaring action, Wonderful 101 is one title you'll definitely want to keep an eye on.

Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 caused quite a fuss when it was first announced due to its Wii U exclusivity. If you're one of those who are legitimately wondering whether it's worth picking up a Wii U to play Bayonetta 2, let me tell you that it certainly seems to be that way. Don't believe me? Just watch this.

Now that's some awesome gameplay. Bayonetta 2 still has all the insane craziness that made the original such a cult favorite. Nintendo isn't dumbing the series down to try and make it more mainstream in an attempt to make their investment back as some feared they would. This is very much a continuation of the Bayonetta we all know and love. While I may not have played the first title, myself, I'll be more than happy to jump into the series with Bayonetta 2.

Fighting giant, demonic dragons clinging to skyscrapers? All in a day's work for Bayonetta.

X

There are some people who say the Wii U is underpowered. To those people, I give you X. Without a doubt, X is the most underrated game of the show this year. This is probably because there's so little to go off of. Nintendo only showed a fantastic trailer, which, while filled with terrific gameplay footage, doesn't give journalists enough material to publicize about. But what really annoys me is that it wasn't even nominated for IGN's People's Choice Award. I know it wouldn't have won, but this game needs and deserves all the attention it can get. Okay, rant over.

Mechs? Check. Giant monsters? Check. Vast open world? Check.

Anyway, X looks amazing in every sense of the word. The vast, open world is beautiful and littered with fantastic creatures and structures, brought to life with exquisite detail and lighting. Even in an age where we have engines that can render every wrinkle in some old guy's face, this is nothing to scoff at. Games like X are just further proof that the Wii U is capable of so much more than people give it credit.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS

We knew the new Smash Bros. would be shown at E3 this year and the anticipation was palpable. The amalgamation of Nintendo's biggest franchises is a special event indeed, with the likes of Mario, Link, Pikachu, and Co. only coming together once a console generation. The first HD Smash Bros. doesn't disappoint. Like so many Wii U games, it looks great. Nintendo may not have the most advanced hardware available, but it can't be argued that they make some terrific-looking games.

Something new for the series is that it's coming to a portable system as well as a console.

The 3DS version outlines the characters in black to make them stand out more on the tiny screen and give it a unique visual flair.

The Wii U and 3DS version of the new Smash Bros. are said to have some sort of interaction between them, but details are scarce as to what that entails, although cross-platform play has already been confirmed to be out of the picture. We didn't see much of either version, so, in all likelihood we'll see it at E3 next year. Still, I'm immensely excited for when the games finally release. Smash Bros. has never disappointed and Sakurai's team shows no signs that they're going to start now.

Oh, and it has Mega Man.

Quite possibly the most exciting thing at E3 this year.

And those were my Top Ten Games of E3 2013. I'm sure those of you reading have a few favorites of your own. Why not give me your favorites in the comments below?

A new Smash Bros. is just around the corner. And do you know what the means? Fan speculation as to who's gonna be in it. Lots and lots of fan speculation. In fact, I think it's high time I jump on the bandwagon and give you my thoughts on what characters should be in next Smash Bros. Keep in mind, that I'm going to be keeping this list fairly realistic by sticking to characters who at least have a chance in appearing in Nintendo's mascot brawler (meaning that they've starred in a game that was on a Nintendo console). As cool as it might be to have Gordon Freeman and Link battle it out to see who is the best silent protagonist, the chances of that happening are slim to none. With that out of the way, here's my list of characters I would like to see in the new Smash Bros., in no particular order.

Ridley (Metroid)

It is true that Ridley has already appeared in every Smash Bros., but he's never been a playable character. Hopefully, that will change with the Wii U and 3DS iterations of the series. Aside from Samus, the Metroid series has little representation in the Smash Bros. roster. Putting in Samus's archenemy would be quite helpful in expanding that representation. I've heard people say that Ridley would be too big to be a regular fighter, and I can see where they're coming from. But size is a non-issue as far as Smash Bros. is concerned. Heck, Kirby is supposed to be a mere eight inches tall. And, while he's certainly no giant, he seems to be much bigger than that when he joins in the Smash-fest. Shrinking Ridley down to Charizard-size shouldn't pose too much of a problem.

Rundas (Metroid)

But, if the developers would rather keep Ridley as a boss or background character, that's perfectly alright. The Metroid series has plenty of other interesting faces that would make a great addition to the game's roster. Rundas is one such face...at least I think he has face. This frigid bounty hunter from Metroid Prime 3 was Samus's ally until he was corrupted by Phazon. His freezing abilities should allow for unique strategies making him an engaging fighter to play.

Prince Fluff (Kirby)

I feel a bit sorry for Prince Fluff. Originally, he was created to star in his own game, but then Kirby muscled in and stole the spotlight from him, relegating him to Player Two. What better way to make up for his loss than to give him a place in the new Smash Bros.?

Waluigi (assorted Mario games)

WAAAAAAAA.

Lloyd Irving (Tales of Symphonia)

Since Super Smash Bros. 4 is being developed in part by Namco, it'd be fitting to have one of Namco's characters take part in the new brawl. Lloyd Irving would be my personal pick, being the protagonist of one of my all-time favorite JRPGs, Tales of Symphonia.

Nightmare (Soulcalibur)

I really like Nightmare. From his extravagantly evil armor and powerful yet ponderous fighting style, his presence would not go amiss. Similar to Lloyd Irving, he's another Namco character I'd like to play as when Smash Bros. finally comes out.

Megaman (Megaman)

Megaman is definitely a fan favorite. People have been asking for him to appear in Smash Bros. for a while. It's high time the Blue Bomber had his chance to shine among Nintendo's greatest. And with a new Megaman game on the horizon, there's no better way to drum up the hype than to put him in Super Smash Bros. 4. He's no stranger to the fighting game scene, either, having already starred in the Marvel vs. Capcom series.

Phoenix Wright (Ace Attorney)

I know what you're thinking, “Phoenix Wright? Isn't he a lawyer? What business does he have being in a fighting game?” Well, none that I can see, but that hasn't stopped from being in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. If he can hold his own against the likes of the Hulk, Wolverine, and Iron Man, who's to say we can't see him locked in combat with Donkey Kong, Captain Falcon, and Samus?

Bayonetta (Bayonetta)

If there's one thing Smash Bros., can take from Playstation All-Stars, it's that mascot brawlers are the perfect venue to advertise upcoming games. Heck, you don't even need to look at PSAS to see that. One of the reasons we got Fire Emblem to come West in the first place is because Marth and Roy were such popular characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee. With Bayonetta 2 being a title with niche appeal, it's going to need all the help it can get to be a success. And what would that “help” entail? Well, putting the first Bayonetta on Wii U would help, but a cheaper alternative would be to put Bayonetta herself in the new Smash Bros.

Rayman (Rayman)

This one I'm not so sure about. After Ubisoft pushed Rayman Legends back into September to have it go multiplatform, it's doubtful that they're on the friendliest terms with Nintendo. That said, I think Rayman would feel right at home in the wacky, off-the-wall action Super Smash Bros. has to offer.

Simon Belmont (Castlevania)

With Castlevania: Lords of Shadow-Mirror of Fate recently hitting the 3DS, Castlevania is starting to undergo a bit of a renaissance on Nintendo systems, one that I hope doesn't end with the recent 3DS exclusive. Some of the best iterations of the series have been on Nintendo platforms: Castlevania 1, Super Castlevania, and Aria of Sorrow. If Castlevania were to appear in the next Smash Bros., who better to represent it than it's most classic and iconic character, Simon Belmont?

Banjo & Kazooie (Banjo Kazooie)

This one entirely hinges on rumors of Nintendo buying back Rare being true. It's a farfetched rumor, but Nintendo has to have a stellar arsenal of exclusive titles to win back core gamers this generation, and Rare has them by the truckload. Foremost among these is Banjo and Kazooie, the bear and bird couple that rocked the N64 back in the day. Their inclusion in Smash Bros. would introduce them to new fans while getting older ones excited for the inevitable Banjo Threeie. Hey, a guy can dream, right?

Honorable Mentions

The following are characters I think that should be in the next Smash Bros., but not as playable fighters. Instead, they would take a side role (trophy, assist, sticker, boss, etc.).

Professor Layton (Professor Layton)

Zael (The Last Story)

Shulk (Xenoblade)

Aeron (Pandora's Tower)

The Sakura Samurai (Sakura Samurai)

Dillon (Dillon's Rolling Western)

Mallo (Pushmo)

Patricia Wagon (Mighty Switch Force)

Hades (Kid Icarus)

And that's my list of characters I'd like to see in SSB4. Were there any particular characters you think should be included? Leave a comment below telling who you'd pick.

The Wii U is one of the biggest things I'm looking forward to at E3 this year. Finally, Nintendo has caught up to the current generation in terms of graphical prowess, and even surpasses it according to many trustworthy sources. This means we will be getting all of our favorite Nintendo franchises with advanced HD graphics as well as the third party support the Wii only dreamed of. Even if the Wii U blows the current generation of consoles away, the success of the Wii U's second unveiling at E3 this year hinges upon the strength of its software line up. There are already a bevy of third party games: Darksiders II, Metro: Last Light, Ninja Gaiden 3, Assassin's Creed 3, Rayman Legends, Aliens: Colonial Marines, and Batman Arkham City. This roster alone looks very promising. In addition to these titles, I expect to see Resident Evil 6, Bioshock Infinite, and Beyond Good and Evil 2 announced for Wii U.

Of course, Nintendo's greatest asset has been the classic franchises we know and love. Mario is already slated to debut on the system with New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Pikmin will be making its long awaited return with its third installment. Perhaps the foremost game I hope to be announced at E3 this year and the one I think is the most likely is Metroid Prime 4. We know that Corruption wasn't the last game in the saga, judging from its 100% ending. Retro is very handy with Nintendo hardware and has produced some of the best looking games on each system. With the power of the Wii U, they will be able to make something truly spectacular. The Wii U's online service could also provide Prime 4 with a deep multiplayer element. It would be something along the lines of Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS, with a wealth of game modes, characters to play as, and arenas to hold matches in. With DLC, we could also see new environments, weapons, story arcs, characters, and multiplayer arenas.

It's time for Retro to tell us what this is all about. The time for Prime 4 has come.

Seeing The Legend of Zelda announced for the Wii U would be nice, but it is doubtful given Skyward Sword was released just last year. That said, it is entirely possible we could see our dreams of HD Zelda fulfilled by another company, like Capcom. We already know New Super Mario Bros. 2 is coming to the Wii U. But what I really want to see is a 3D Mario game, something along the lines of Super Mario Galaxy.

Recent photos have surfaced showing the Wii U controller with traditional control sticks as opposed to the circle pads we saw at E3 last year. It is very likely that the controller with the joysticks is the new design to be shown at E3 this year. New joysticks are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what features the Wii U will offer. Nintendo is going to put an emphasis on the Nintendo Network and showing us what their new online service will incorporate. Obviously, we will have the option to download full retail titles as well as DLC. In addition to this, Nintendo will also announce their answer to trophies, achievements, and gamer/achievement points that can be displayed on an online profile for all to admire your gaming prowess. Finally, they will outline how the online capabilities of the Wii U will be applied to multiplayer gaming. The controller will also have a few facets to show off, like the touchscreen. In Prime 4, for example, the screen can be used as a map for Samus's immediate area. When held up at the screen, it might be used as a secondary visor to scan the environment and enemies. The NFC feature will be detailed as well. We have already seen how it might be applied in Rayman Legends, but we will probably see it applied to a new Skylanders game. The Wii U controller can be used in conjunction with the Portal of Power to fuse to Skylanders to create new characters.

I'm already pretty excited for the Wii U as it is. But to get me truly pumped for Nintendo's newest system, there has to be confirmation on a few things. First, the Wii U's processing power as it compares to the hypothetical specs of the next generation. Even the Wii had pretty impressive third party support in its early days, but it died out after the competitor consoles found their footing. This generation, the Wii missed out on a lot of great third party titles that were released on PS3 on XBox 360: Portal, Batman Arkham Asylum/City, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, and Skyrim, all the while having few noteworthy titles added to its library. All this because it did not have the capability to render any of these games. I want to be certain that the Wii U won't suffer a similar fate, that it will be able to compete with the PS4 and next gen XBox. Also, I want to know that the Wii U won't be an expensive piece of hardware. Anything within the $300-$350 range sounds feasible, but I don't want to wind up paying $600+ no matter how good the hardware and software is. Then there is the subject of the Wii U's launch and what games will be available at that time. We won't know details about the Wii U's price or launch line up at E3, but it would be nice to have a broad statement as to what we can expect.

Nintendo has a lot to show for the Wii U this year. Hardware capabilities have to be outlined and software has to be announced. They have to show the world that the Wii U is a next gen console that will be a viable platform for third party developers even after the release the competitor's next gen consoles. They have to show us that the famous Nintendo brand will be carried over onto the Wii U with names like Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. Show us these things, and Nintendo will surely have a showstopper on their hands.